There’s Another Cheap Ski Area Up for Grabs

If you’re looking for a sign that you’re meant to live the high life as owner of your own ski area, this is it. For the second time in recent weeks, a super affordable option has come on the ski area market. Montana’s Marshall Mountain, currently listed for roughly $3 million is more than twice the ticket price of Oregon’s Spout Springs Ski Area, available for the buyer’s market price of $1.25 million, but that just means you need to get a few more friends in on the deal. Don’t be too proud to ask Grandma for an advance on your birthday money.A little WD40 should get this puppy running smooth again. PHOTO: Courtesy of real estate listing

Tucked in the Rattlesnake Mountains outside Missoula, Montanans have been skiing these slopes since 1941. The bright pink chairlifts kept cranking until 2003 when the owners got themselves in a financial pickle with the IRS and were forced to cease ski operations.

It’s been a hot spot for mountain bikes and matrimony on the mountain since then, but the property still has all the fixings for a fully operational ski hill, including the old ski school and rental shop and the main lodge.

Just put it on your tab. PHOTO: Courtesy of real estate listing

The 156-acre property is already zoned for commercial recreation (read: skiing). A land trust and the Lolo National Forest own a portion of plot but it sounds like they’re down to allow non-motorized use of the land (read: skiing). Ownership comes with water rights and piping for snowmaking, which you might need if next winter is a repeat of last season. We sure hope it ain’t, but like the Boy Scouts say, be prepared!

According to the listing, you can be king—or queen—of the mountain for monthly payments of $12,669 (with a down payment of $590,000, a credit score higher than 740 and a 30-year fixed mortgage… but those are just details).Round and round she goes. PHOTO: Courtesy of real estate listing